JoeUse : How to Add a Forum Avatar

Come on, join the "cool kids" club!

from JoeUser Forums
The forum updates that have been going on across the rest of the Stardock websites have finally made their way to JoeUser.  There are a whole slew of changes that hopefully I'll get to describing and documenting later for everyone, but one of the most immediate differences people have already noticed are the Forum Avatars; the little pictures that appear next to people's names on forum posts.

We've had avatars for a while, as anyone who had one before would have it show on any comment they left on an article or thread.  The difference now is, on the forums, those without an avatar will see a little gray silhouette that says "No Photo."  This little tutorial is for those of you who hate that little gray man looking back at you, mocking you and your lack of ultra-cool avatar.  Follow along for a very simple guide to getting yourself a forum avatar.

I've tried to make the process as clear as possible by illustrating the steps with screenshots.  If there is any confusion, please let me know and I'll try to get things cleared up.

  1. Click on the "Forums" link located at the top of any JoeUser page.

     
  2. If you are not automatically logged into the forums, do so now.
     
  3. Click on the "My Account" link across the top of the forums

     
  4. Click on the "Update Images" tab

     
  5. The first section is labeled "Personal Icon"  This is your forum avatar that will appear next to posts you make on JoeUser.com, WinCustomize.com, GalCiv2.com or any other Stardock forum.

    You need to have an image created that is in .jpg format ready to go.  I have a little Master Chief icon I've been using for a while that I like...


    Generally speaking, the smaller your image is to start with the better.  It will automatically be resized to 50x50 pixels (the size of the above image), so you'll lose a lot of quality and it'll be hard to see whatever picture it is you uploaded.
     
  6. Once you have an image saved to your computer that you want to use, click on the "browse" button under the "Personal Icon" heading.


    This will bring up the Open File dialog, browse to your saved image, select it and then click "Open"


    After clicking on "Open" you'll be returned to the web page, and in the field next to the browse button, you should now see part of the file path to your image file.

     
  7. Now, click on the "Upload" button lower on the page.

     
  8. If you followed these steps and uploaded a .jpg file, you should see the following after clicking upload:

There you have it, a quick-and-dirty tutorial on how to get your forum avatar uploaded to the system!

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9,794 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
It is a lot easier to find now, than when I figured it out.  I'll stick with Alf.  I like Cats too!
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
OK, but what if you already have an avatar, but the words "No Photo" still show underneath the photo? Have such users been tagged as "uncool kids" anyway by the Stardock Powers that Be? hehe
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

Nope, we don't block anyone from uploading avatars      It looks like an issue where the "no photo" still shows is that we're loading that image be default, and then loading any avatars over them.  So if the avatar isn't at least 50x50 pixels, some of the image behind shows through.

Though in your case Angela, it looks like your person is doing their bit of gymnastics off of the "no photo" bar 

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thx for the tips. I've done everything so far but mine still says what I uploaded is corrupted. I guess I'll keep playing with it.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Zoomba, I tried to upload a pic and was told that I had tried to upload image/jpeg

I took a pic and edited it in serif, then exported it as a jpeg picture. It should load shouldn't it as a jpeg or is that different to JPG file? The options on export are jpeg or gif.

What can you suggest I do to fix this little problem? Any advice would be welcomed. thanks
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
File has to be .JPG and has to be 50x50 pixels.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
File has to be .JPG and has to be 50x50 pixels.


Okay so it is different jpeg, jpg, thanks I will sort it out ta
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
hey mike, email me at some point lost your address.

When you having me down to visit?
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
.jpg and .jpeg are technically the same format, we just force the files to explicitly be .jpg You can just rename the file and it should work.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
jpg and .jpeg are technically the same format, we just force the files to explicitly be .jpg You can just rename the file and it should work.


thanks zoomba
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nope, we don't block anyone from uploading avatars


Oh good. I really didn't think so, I was just kidding. I don't wanna be like that guy who wrote the "Joke User" article.   

File has to be .JPG and has to be 50x50 pixels.


Aha. Gotcha.

Though in your case Angela, it looks like your person is doing their bit of gymnastics off of the "no photo" bar


That's hilarious. It looks like I'm on a "No Photo" balance beam. I never did take front walkovers to the beam, so this can be a first!   

But I don't suppose you can change the words, "No Photo," to, "Goddess"...? JK

Thanks for all your tireless help, Zoomba n Brad.

I heart Joe User.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't wanna be like that guy who wrote the "Joke User" article


  Aye an' be fed to ta sharks lassie!
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
jpg and .jpeg are technically the same format, we just force the files to explicitly be .jpg You can just rename the file and it should work.


Hey Zoomba,
Some further advice on the photos please?

I have done the renaming bit of the photo files but still get told that file is corrupted and I have chosen to upload an image/jpg and not a jpg file.

Is the problem with me or you? this is for (personal photo. I was thinking that maybe Serif photo is being a bit too possessive when I export to the desktop to save as jpg? Should I get myself another program? (If so what program do you recommend?)

thanks
Jennifer

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
but still get told that file is corrupted


Me too.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Jennifer, please email me the photo ([email protected]) and I'll take a look at it to see what's wrong.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Jennifer, please email me the photo ([email protected]) and I'll take a look at it to see what's wrong.


You sly dog! Getting another entry for your black book. hehehehehe. YOU ARE the ZOOMBA!
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

On a serious note, I have noticed a couple of things of late, and figure you can research them best.  Sometimes when I click on comments, I get the visitor screen.  And sometimes when I click on an article, I get the same (no watch icon, and minimal options).  A refresh brings it all back, but as you are now the Stardock GURU, I thought you might have an answer (or at least the skinny on the programmer so you can blackmail them! )

This has just started happening since the new Forums appeared.

Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
(or at least the skinny on the programmer so you can blackmail them! )


you're learning too much from "playing the pirate!"   
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mike I'm going to send you mine, I'm still getting the 'sucessful but corrupted' notice.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ok So I finally was successful with the uploads. A photo and an Avatar. Except the Avatar seems so small. And which should we choose to appear, and how? (Although I see it as already done that!
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was successful in making it a little bigger. Not as full as the photo but a little bigger. The more I understand, the more user-friendly this is! Yeah!

My question still remains, how do I choose which one I want to show up? Mikey you rock!  
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Is the problem with me or you? this is for (personal photo. I was thinking that maybe Serif photo is being a bit too possessive when I export to the desktop to save as jpg? Should I get myself another program? (If so what program do you recommend?)


Jen, I kept getting that until I reopen my file photo in paint, selected Image menu, clicked on Stretch/Skew and made it smaller and then save with a new name; then double click it into the section where I want to upload my photograph and walla! It worked! Good luck with it!  
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thank you I always wanted a better avatar .
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
Is the problem with me or you? this is for (personal photo. I was thinking that maybe Serif photo is being a bit too possessive when I export to the desktop to save as jpg? Should I get myself another program? (If so what program do you recommend?)


I've been using IrfanView to resize and make mine jpgs, it seems to work really nicely. I've never had any of the problems the rest of you seem to be having.

Plus, IrfanView is nice because it's FREE!

(Here's a link to the download, if you want it. Here you go.)
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
OK, the reason some of you are seeing strange sizing issues is because the images you're uploading are not square.  The upload script will shrink the image so that it fits within a 50x50 pixel area.  It will typically shrink the largest dimension to 50px and then scale the smaller one down in ratio.

An example would be the image Jennifer sent me.  The original size of the image was 150x111 pixels (width x height).  After scaling to fit within 50px, the image becomes 50x37.  This maintains the original ratio of the image to avoid weird stretching/distortion, but it results in the tiny images you're seeing now.

As to personal icon(avatar) versus photograph.  The personal icon is all that can be displayed on the forums.  The photograph will be what is shown on your profile page.